Recently a member of the British and Commonwealth Military
Badge Forum provided excellent information regarding the printed version of
the WWII British Airborne Forces Formation Badge. It pertains to the range of
both shade and chroma occurring in genuine issued versions of the badge, and
includes the maroon surrounding background, as well as the silhouette of Pegasus
and Bellerophon. As seen, some of the badges have been in use, and would appear to have been removed from battledress.
The author is indebted, and expresses both gratitude and acknowledgement to Tcrown (Pierre)
who has provided a range of examples of the badge from his personal collection.
• He states that all of badges are printed on Drill #2
cotton coarse weave material.
• The silhouette is consistently placed within the surrounding maroon background
with the weave being seen running diagonally downward from left to right.
• The difference in the shade of the maroon can be
attributed to either original dye/print lots and/or fading due to useage.
• Fold lines for sewing are indicated by a series of dots, not dashes.
• By observation the same precise outline and proportions
are present in the silhouette in each badge in both left and right orientation.
• The color chroma as seen in the silhouette can range from a light blue to turquoise.
• Looking at the reverse in these examples it can be observed that the cloth is initially a solid blue shade, and the maroon is then overprinted, whether by silkscreening or some other technique, and a limited bleed-through can be seen.
For further detailed guidance in identifying genuine originals of this badge, both printed and embroidered variants, readers are invited to visit; http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/p/british-militaria.html .
• The color chroma as seen in the silhouette can range from a light blue to turquoise.
• Looking at the reverse in these examples it can be observed that the cloth is initially a solid blue shade, and the maroon is then overprinted, whether by silkscreening or some other technique, and a limited bleed-through can be seen.
For further detailed guidance in identifying genuine originals of this badge, both printed and embroidered variants, readers are invited to visit; http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/p/british-militaria.html .
A
fine example of a early WWII genuine uncut, unissued pair of the embroidered
British Airborne Forces Formation Badge in obverse and reverse views. Recommended
for use in comparison with, and authentication of, other specimens. (Double click to enlarge).
Viewers may also want to revisit the previous article on the regimental cap badge of the Parachute Regiment for additional examples of genuine badges. See: http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/09/wwii-parachute-regiment-cap-badge.html
Author's Note: There was a very recent thread by DougSA on the British and Commonwealth Military Badge Forum on a variant of the printed version of the above formation badge in his collection. With acknowledgment and gratitude, he stated;
"This is a Pegasus patch in my collection.
Of interest is the fact that the spear shaft passes through one of the feathers, i.e. feather 5, counting from where the wing curves back. Whereas, one commonly used sign of a genuine patch is that the shaft should pass between feathers 4 and 5.
I should mention that I have also seen a picture of this variation in Oliver Lock's 'British Airborne Insignia', p.177."
Author's Note: There was a very recent thread by DougSA on the British and Commonwealth Military Badge Forum on a variant of the printed version of the above formation badge in his collection. With acknowledgment and gratitude, he stated;
"This is a Pegasus patch in my collection.
Of interest is the fact that the spear shaft passes through one of the feathers, i.e. feather 5, counting from where the wing curves back. Whereas, one commonly used sign of a genuine patch is that the shaft should pass between feathers 4 and 5.
I should mention that I have also seen a picture of this variation in Oliver Lock's 'British Airborne Insignia', p.177."
